GLENDALE, Ariz. — On Tuesday, in the same Camelback Ranch clubhouse he occupied every spring for six years, many of them as the face of the Dodgers franchise, Matt Kemp stood at his locker, so far from where he once was.

In a gentle voice, Kemp contemplated addressing the growing group of reporters before him. Watching from a few lockers away was Justin Turner, one of many men who replaced Kemp on billboards and marketing materials across Los Angeles. Turner suggested Kemp avoid the horde until after he finished his day’s hitting.

He motioned the crowd over. For at least seven minutes, he proved correct. While smiling, laughing and offering weight-loss tips, Kemp disputed characterizations that he had been a bad teammate in his first tenure as a Dodger. He also disputed a 2016 quote attributed to him as an...

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